Swinging sash operator



Dec. 24, 1957 s. c. `REYNAUD swINGING sAsH OPERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1954 FaS/770,7 B

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SWINGING sAsH OPERATOR y Filed Apri; 12. 1954 V 2 Sheets-sheet 2 AyfrqRA/frs United States Patent @hice 2,817,511 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 SWINGING SASH OPERATOR Samuel Chester Reynaud, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.,

assignor, by mesne assignments, to Valley Metal Products Co., Plainwell, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 12, 1954, Serial No. 422,395

6 Claims. (Cl. 268-105) This invention relates to window structures and particularly to operating mechanisms for awning type, swingable sash windows.

The conventional awning window is provided with one or more sashes which are mounted for pivotal movement at their upper edges upon a horizontal axis. The sashes may be swung from a vertical position in abutment with the frame of the window, i. e., a closed position, to an open position Where they extend obliquely away from the window frame. To eiect these movements, a combination of various links and actuating bars are mounted within the frame of the window and are coupled with the sashes and with an operating mech- .anism, or what may be termed an operator. Frequently this operator includes an actuating crank which may be grasped and thereafter rotated by a person desiring to open and close the window.

The swingable or pivotable sashes in use today are generally formed of lightweight sheet or extruded metal supporting a window pane. Because of the materials used in their construction, they are somewhat flexible. The window frames Within which these sashes are mounted are also formed of similar material. Because of the flexibility of the construction of the window assembly, and the fact that in modern methods of production today the sashes are not fitted with precision to the frame in which they are mounted, when the sashes are closed against the frame, they may not seat properly thereagainst around the peripheries of the sashes. The results of such improper seating are imperfect weather seals between the sashes and the frame. But even if the sashes do abut the frame around their peripheries, still it is necessary to draw the sashes snugly up against the frame.

The operators in common use today do not provide for increasing the force upon the operating linkage necessary to either draw a misaligned sash snugly against the frame, or an aligned sash snugly against the frame, without a substantial increase in the force that the person actuating the crank of the operator must norm-ally apply in opening or adjusting the sashes in an open po sition. Therefore a prime object of this invention is the provision of an operator which is capable of substantially increasing the tension in the operating linkage asrthe sashes are moved into a closed position, without the necessity of applying a corresponding greater force to the operating crank of the operator.

A concomitant object is the provision of an operator which will draw one or more awning type window sashes snugly up against the frame without requiring the person actuating the operator to apply any greater force to the operator than is normally applied in either opening the window or adjusting the sashes when in the open position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an operating mechanism having a primary housing adapted to be mounted on the frame of an awning type window,

and which housing includes an integral sub-housing therewithin which is adapted to support a worm gear in driving engagement with a segment type gear rotatably mounted within the primary housing.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an operator of an offset, or arcuately-shaped link pivotally coupled at one end with sash operating linkage and at the other end with a crank throw mounted on a segment gear which is driven by a worm gear, with the link and crank throw so disposed with respect to the axis of the segment gear and the point of coupling with the sash operating linkage, that :as the gear rotates, the mechanical advantage of the operator increases near the limits of rotation of the segment gear.

A meritorious feature of the invention is the provision of a compact operator assembly which includes a housing 'supporting therewithin a worm gear in` driving engagement with a segment gear, a crank mounted on the segment gear to be driven thereby, an arcuate link coupled at one end with the crank and adapted to be coupled at the other end with sash operating linkage, and an operating lever ymounted on the worm gear shaft exteriorly of the housing and operable to revolve the worm gear.

An advantage of the invention is the provision of an operator housing so constructed that it may support therewithin either a right hand operating mechanism and be mounted on the right hand side of an awning window frame, or support 'a left hand operating mechanism and be mounted on the left hand side of the window frame.

An important advantage of the invention is that the construction and arrangement is such that the operator hand crank is so supported and extends through one side wall of the housing at such an angle as to project inwardly of the window `a minimum distance.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a cross sectional View of the lower portion of an awning window frame showing a lower Window mounted therein in the closed position; i

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but with the window open;

Fig. 3 is a side view of my improved swinging sash operator;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the operator shown in Fig. 3 but with the operating crank handle removed;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the operating crank handle in place;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line -6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is 'a diagrammatic illustration of the functioning of the operating mechanism.

My improved operator is particularly well suited for awning type windows such as are disclosed in. the copending applications of Elmer A. Westman, Serial Nos.

291,848 and 291,849, led June 5, 1952, now Patent No.

2,740,170 granted April 3, 1956. One or more awning window sashes are mounted in a rectangular frame for pivotal movement about horizontal axes. 1i) is shown in Figs. l and 2. A jamb member 12 of the rectangular frame is channel shaped in cross section andl opens outwardly of the window, or to the left as viewed in Figs. l and 2. Disposed within each of the channel shaped jambs of the frame is a slide bar 14. A guide 16 positions the slide bar and guides its vertical travel within.

the jamb member. t The upper horizontal edge of the sash 10 is pivotally secured to the slide bar by a bracket 18 andl rivet or the One such sash like 20. At the point 22 an adjustable link 24 is pivotally connected to the sash at one end, and to the guide as at 26 at the other end. A long link 28 is pivotally connected at one end to the slide bar at 20, and connected at the lower end to a shorter link 30 as at 3.2. The shorter link 30 is pivotally supported within the frame on a horizontally extending rod or bar 34. It is apparent from the 'drawings that upon swinging the shorter link 30 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, the sash will be closed against the frame as in Fig. 1.

The above described linkage will be hereinafter termed sash -operating linkage or operating linkage. This operating linkage is disposed at each side of the rectangular frame, and the shorter links, one of which is shown at 30, are mounted at each end -of the horizontally extending rod or bar 34. This rod 34 couples together the sash operating linkage at each side of the rectangular frame. The sash frame 36, the rectangular window frame 12, and the operating linkage are formed of light weight metal such as an aluminum alloy or stainless steel. Because of the flexibility of the construction of the window assembly, and the fact that in modern methods of production today the sashes are not fitted with precision to the frame, when sash 10l is closed against the frame, as in Fig. 1, it may not seat properly around its periphery against the frame. The result of such improper seating is an imperfect weather seal with consequent air and water leaks. But even if the sash 10 does abut the frame completely around the periphery of the sash, still it is necessary to close the sash snugly up against the frame.

Improper seating of the sash against the frame may be in part corrected by increasing the force `on the operating linkage as the sash first `abuts the frame, thereby forcing the sash to lie flat against the frame. lt is also apparent that if the sash is to be drawn up snugly against the frame, increased force must be applied to the sash as it initially abuts the frame during the closing movement of the sash.

In order to increase the force applied to the operating linkage without increasing the force that a person must apply to the closing mechanism coupled with the operating linkage, I have provided an improved operator 38, which materially increases in mechanical advantage as the sash nears the closed position. As a result of this increased mechanical advantage as the sash nears the closed position, no more force need be appliedby aperson in tightly closing the window than is applied in adjusting it while in the open position.

My improved operator includes a primary housing 40 having opposed side walls 42 and 44, and a back wall 46. The side wall 42 is beveled as at 48. The wall 42 is shaped exteriorly and interiorly of the housing to exhibit a sub-housing 50. The sub-housing opens interiorly of the primary housing through a slotf52. The sub-housing includes a back wall 54, a side wall S6 and a side wall 58 which is common with the side wall 42 of the primary housing.

The primary housing is provided with a flange 6@ at the upper -end through which may be received a screw r bolt 62 for .securing such end of the housing to the rectangular frame. The lower end of the primary housing exhibits a flange 64 through which yare received two screws or bolts 66 and 68 to secure :the lower end to the rectangular frame.

A pair of ribs 70- andvv72 extend along wall 44 interiorly of the primary housing. `These ribs provide increased thickness portions for wall 44, through which may be vthreadedlyl received a pin orfthe like 74. Two such ribs are provided so that the hereinafter described gears and crank throw may be mounted in the primary housing near the top wall 76 instead of as shown near the bottom wall 78. vSuch rearrangement lis frequently desirable if the operator is to be used on the left hand si-de ofthe window frame insteadof on the right as shown in the drawings.

The pin 74 is slidably received through the opposite side wall 42, so that the walls cooperate to support the pin as shown in Fig. 6. A hexagonally shaped sleeve 8l) is rotatably received over the pin, and spaced from the side wall 42 and the rib 72 by washers 82 and 84. Mounted on the hexagonal sleeve to rotate therewith is a crank throw 86, a spacer 88 and a segment gear 90.

An externally threaded bushing 92 is threade'dly received withinvthe sub-housing 50. The bushing rotatably supports `an operating crank 94 which encircles a handle 96, aV shaft k98 Aand a worm gear 100. A set screw 102 removably-.secures the handle 96 to the shaft 98. lThe bore 104 in the sub-housing through which the Operating crank isureceived is provided with a shoulder 106. The shaft 98 is provided with ashoulder 108 spaced from the shoulder 106 of the bore by a washer 110. A lock washer 112 encircles the shaft and bears against the shoulder 108 and a washer 114 which abuts the bushing 92. The lock washer tends to frictionally hold the operating crank in adjusted rotated positions. The worm gear is coupled in driving engagement with the segment gear 90 through the opening 52 in the sub-housing.

Pivotally coupled to the end of the crank throw 86 is an `arcuately shaped link 116. The connection between the link 116 and the throw may -be by means of a rivet 118 or the like. The other end of the arcuate link is pivotally coupled to the link 39 of the operating linkage as at 120 by a rivet or screw.

It will be noted that the distance between the pivotal axis of throw 86 about the pin 74 and the pivotal connection of the arcuate link and the throw, is substantially less than the distance between the pivotal axes 34 and 120 of the link 30. It may be appreciated by a study of Figs. l and 2 that as the crank throw 86 moves from a substantially vertical position clockwise to a substantially horizontal position, an increase in mechanical advantage occurs with respect to the operating linkageQ Similarly as the crank throw moves from a substantially vertical position counterclockwise` to the position shown indotted outline in Fig. 'A2, an increase in the mechanical yadvantage between the operator and the link 30 occurs. The reason for this increasein mechanical advantage is illustrated in Fig. 8. i'

The solid outline position B illustrates the crank throw, arcuate link, and link 30, when the sash is tightly closed. The dotted outline position A, of the'same elements, illustrates their disposition when the sash is open. D and D are the effective lengths of ythecrank throw in the two positions. The effective length is measured along a line from the pivotal connection at 118 perpendicular to lines drawn from the pivotal connection 32 through the pivotal axis of the crank throw. If it be assumed that a constant torque T is `applied to the crank throw bythe operating crank 94 in the two positions, then the force F that the crank throw will imposeon the link 30 is Vinversely*proportional to thev effective length of the crank throw. In other words, if thedeifective'length D of the throw at position A is l and the torque applied to the throw by the operating crank is constant atl l pound-inch, then the force F at point 118 exerted on the arcuate link is 1 pound, and if the effectivelengthof the throw is reduced to 3%" or D', then theforce F at 1,18 is 1.33 plus'pounds. This increasing mechanical advantage as the sash nears the closed position is also demonstrated by the fact that in the last few inches of closing movement of Vthe sash, the operating crank mustv `be revolved proportionallyagreater number of revolutions per inch of movement of thesash, than when the sash is in a .substantially more open position. It isv therefore apparent that though the same force is constantly applied to the operating crank by a person in operating my improved operator, as the sash nears the closed position, the force imposed on the operating linkage increases. The sash, thereforeis drawn snugly up against the window frame without requiring any increase of force on the operating crank.

It is also apparent upon study of the gures of the drawings, that the mechanical advantage of my improved operator increases as the sash nears the fully open position, and therefore any tendency of the sash to bind as it approaches the fully open position is overcome by this increased mechanical advantage. It will be noted that the operating crank shaft is rotatably journaled within the subhousing 50 and extends through the side Wall of the main housing at substantially an acute angle with respect thereto. The crank which is mounted on the outer end of the crank shaped therefrom projects away from the window assembly only a minimum distance and constitutes only a slight obstruction within the room.

What I claim is:

1. Operating mechanism for an awning type window assembly having a generally rectangular frame provided with a rotatably supported shaft extending transversely across the frame and having a link xed thereto to rotate the shaft, comprising, in combination: a sash operator housing secured to the frame and having two side walls, a back wall, and an open side opposed to the back wall and registering with an opening into the window frame; a gear journaled within the housing between the side walls thereof spaced from the back wall of the housing; an operator crank extending through a wall of said housing and journaled for rotation and provided with a worm gear engaged with the rst-mentioned gear within the housing to rotate said first-mentioned gear; a throw crank coupled with the first-mentioned gear to rotate therewith and having a link pivotally coupled at one end to the swingable end of the throw crank, said link pivotally coupled at its opposite end to the link xed to the shaft to rotate the shaft; said throw crank being swingable from a position projecting through the opening in the housing to a position within the housing between the pivotal support of the throw crank and the back wall of the housing.

2. A swinging sash operator comprising, in combination: a housing having a pair of opposed side walls, a back wall, and an open side opposed to the back wall; a crank throw swingably supported within the housing between the side walls upon a pivot spaced from the back wall a distance exceeding the length of the crank throw; a link coupled at one end with the swingable end of the crank throw and adapted to be coupled at the other end with sash operating linkage; means coupled with the crank throw to swing the same about its pivot from a position with the free end of the throw projecting outwardly through the open side of the housing through an arc of substantially 180 to a position with the free end of the crank throw disposed within the housing and between the pivot of the crank throw and the back wall of the housing.

3. A swinging sash operator comprising, in combination: a housing having a pair of opposed side walls, a back wall, and an open side opposed to the back wall; an operating crank extending through one of the walls and supported therein for rotation, said crank supporting for rotation a gear within the housing; a second gear supported within the housing between the side walls for rotation parallel to such walls, said second gear being in driving engagement with the first gear; a crank throw coupled with the second gear for swingable movement about the axis of rotation of the second gear; a link pivotally coupled at one end with the swingable end of the crank throw and adapted to be pivotally coupled at the other end with sash operating linkage; said link being so shaped that an intermediate portion between its pivot ends is oiset said ends outwardly away from the pivotal axis of the crank throw, said crank throw and link swingable from one position wherein the link and swingable end of the crank throw projects outwardly of the housing through the open side of the housing to another position inwardly of the housing with the swingable end of the crank throw disposed between the pivotal axis of the crank throw and the back wall of the housing.

4. A swinging sash operated as defined in claim 3 characterized in that the crank extends through one side wall of the housing and such side wall is provided with a crank supporting part projecting interiorly of the housing, and the gear supported yby the crank is exposed between said part and the side wall of the housing and within such space engages the second gear for driving.

5. A swinging sash operator comprising,I in combination; a primary housing having a pair of opposed side walls, a back wall, and an open side opposed to the back wall; said primary housing shaped interiorly to provide a sub-housing opening interiorly of the primary housing along one side wall of the primary housing; an operating crank extending through said side wall of the primary housing; a gear rotatably supported within the sub-housing and coupled for rotation with said crank; said gear exposed to the interior of the primary housing through the opening in the sub-housing, a second gear rotatably supported between the side walls of the primary housing and projecting in part through said opening in the sub-housing into driving engagement with the gear coupled with the crank to be driven thereby; and a crank throw supported for rotation with the second gear and swingable into and out of the primary housing through the open side thereof upon rotation of the operating crank.

6. A swinging sash operator comprising, in combination: a primary housing having spaced parallel side walls, a back wall, and an open side opposed to the back wall, one side wall of the primary housing provided with a sub-housing projecting in opposite directions away from said side wall forming an exterior sub-housing portion on the outside of the side wall and an interior sub-housing portion on the inside of the side wall, a crank shaft rotatably journaled within the sub-housing and extending through the associated side wall of the primary housing at an acute angle thereto, said shaft provided with a worm gear at its inner end within the inner portion of the sub-housing and provided with a crank on its outer end adjacent to the exterior portion of the sub-housing, said sub-housing provided with an opening through which the worm gear is exposed, a second gear rotatably supported within the primary housing upon a shaft extending between the side walls of the housing, said second gear coupled with the worm gear through the opening in the sub-housing through which the worm gear is exposed, a crank throw coupled with the second gear for rotation therewith through the open side of the primary housing from a position within the primary housing between the back wall thereof and the axis of rotation of the crank throw to a position substantially removed and projecting outwardly of the primary housing through the open side thereof, said crank throw spaced axially from the second gear, and an arcuate arm pivoted at one end to the swingable end of the crank throw and swingable therewith to a position projecting outwardly of the primary housing and to a position within the primary housing alongside of the sub-housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,058,328 Ledwinka Oct. 20, 1936 2,478,044 Gargiulo Aug. 2, 1949 2,528,953 Gzupkaytii Nov. 7, 1950 2,551,590 Ferri May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 578,241 Great Britain June 20, 1946 

